Occidental Petroleum names former Goldman Sachs exec as new CFO

Occidental Petroleum on Friday announced that former Goldman Sachs managing director Cynthia L. Walker will officially become an executive vice president and its chief financial officer on Aug 6.

Walker, 35, in a 12-year stint with Goldman Sachs provided clients with strategic advice in high-profile energy industry transactions as a senior member of the Global Natural Resources Group located in Houston. Walker also served as a member of Goldman Sachs' Mergers and Acquisitions Group.

"We feel very fortunate that an executive of Ms. Walker’s caliber is joining the ranks of our senior management," Occidental President and Chief Executive Stephen I. Chazen said in a statement about the appointment.

Walker holds a bachelor's degree in accounting with high honors from the University of Texas at Austin.

Walker will be taking the CFO post that has been held by James M. Lienert the last two years. Occidental said that Lienert will continue with the company as executive vice president for business support.

Occidental, based in Westwood, is the fourth largest U.S. oil and gas company.